Recorder recommendations for life story recording
December 29, 2005 12:51 PM Subscribe
My step-father (in his 70s) is looking for a mini-recorder to get his life story down. Got recommendations?
The criteria I have so far: Must be extremely easy to use (one or two button operation); large, easy to find buttons; preferably records in mp3 format; preferably allows for individual files (ie, a new file each recording, rather than one giant file). Any recommendations on devices or other criteria I should keep in mind. Price is not (much of) an issue, and I'd really like to get this to him soon.
The criteria I have so far: Must be extremely easy to use (one or two button operation); large, easy to find buttons; preferably records in mp3 format; preferably allows for individual files (ie, a new file each recording, rather than one giant file). Any recommendations on devices or other criteria I should keep in mind. Price is not (much of) an issue, and I'd really like to get this to him soon.
Not sure about dedicated recorders, but you might want to consider an mp3 player that has in-built recording capabilities. I know that some of Creative's mp3 players can do it; personally, I've used an iPod with iMic and iTalk, and they've worked reasonably well (iMic and iTalk available from Griffin) - pretty easy to use, and stored in mp3 format. Of course, that was with the 4G iPod, not the iPod that's currently out now.
posted by adrianhon at 3:20 PM on December 29, 2005
posted by adrianhon at 3:20 PM on December 29, 2005
Oops, I meant the Lapel Mic, not the iMic (which is a completely different product). The idea is that the iTalk plugs into the iPod, which enables recording. The iTalk has a built-in microphone, but it's not great. You can plug in a bunch of different microphones into the iTalk, and I used Griffin's Lapel Mic, which worked fine.
posted by adrianhon at 3:23 PM on December 29, 2005
posted by adrianhon at 3:23 PM on December 29, 2005
If you're willing to spend about $400 (and possibly more for a microphone and memory card), Transom.org really likes the M-Audio Microtrack 24/96. It meets all your criteria, and should also be able to produce extremely high-quality audio, which would be useful if your stepdad wants to make the recordings available for others to hear. (If he just wants to make notes for later transcription, the quality isn't so important.)
posted by mbrubeck at 3:52 PM on December 29, 2005
posted by mbrubeck at 3:52 PM on December 29, 2005
Ditto with the mp3 player idea. I have an Iriver ifp395T, that I've used to record lectures with the built-in microphone. It records to mp3 format. Stores each recording as a separate file. File format (sampling rate / Kbps) is adjustable, so you can trade off higher sound quality for less recording time. Newer iRiver mp3 players. like this one comes in 1Gb. The only downside to iRiver's mp3 player is that it requires their software on your PC or Mac to retrieve the recordings from the unit.
Other mp3/recorders, like my wife's Sandisk, just mount like a USB flash drive, so transfering recordings should be drag and drop easy.
A downside to player/recorders like these is that they have small print on the LCD display.
posted by jaimev at 4:02 PM on December 29, 2005
Other mp3/recorders, like my wife's Sandisk, just mount like a USB flash drive, so transfering recordings should be drag and drop easy.
A downside to player/recorders like these is that they have small print on the LCD display.
posted by jaimev at 4:02 PM on December 29, 2005
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, may I recommend the Edirol R-1. Can record directly to mp3. Microphone built in. Simple to use, and the results are great.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 5:58 PM on December 29, 2005
posted by coach_mcguirk at 5:58 PM on December 29, 2005
My Samsung YP can record MP3 audio, supposedly. Has a tiny mic, though.
What about minidisk? Might make more sense to an older chap.
posted by delmoi at 6:20 PM on December 29, 2005
What about minidisk? Might make more sense to an older chap.
posted by delmoi at 6:20 PM on December 29, 2005
This may not be the simplest but it's one I'm looking at: the Sony MZ-M10. You can get it for under $300.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 10:14 AM on December 30, 2005
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 10:14 AM on December 30, 2005
I've never held an R1, but the interface looks pretty simple.
I generally don't recommend the Marantz PMD 660 because it's expensive (~$500), but it has a form factor that is not intimidating to those who aren't of this gadget generation. If you follow the link, you'll see a picture with three large buttons on the front of the unit. You set up the recording format and level (or auto level) and stuff, and he only has to turn the power on, and hit the record button. Stop/record creates a new track. It has a built in stereo mic that is surprisingly decent.
posted by Jack Karaoke at 1:23 AM on January 1, 2006
I generally don't recommend the Marantz PMD 660 because it's expensive (~$500), but it has a form factor that is not intimidating to those who aren't of this gadget generation. If you follow the link, you'll see a picture with three large buttons on the front of the unit. You set up the recording format and level (or auto level) and stuff, and he only has to turn the power on, and hit the record button. Stop/record creates a new track. It has a built in stereo mic that is surprisingly decent.
posted by Jack Karaoke at 1:23 AM on January 1, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Kickstart70 at 1:13 PM on December 29, 2005